Coleford: Our Story

THE TEAM: Jamie Horne, Isabella Lunn, Bianka Rajanayagam and Jolyn Lim

Research Aim: The project aimed to revitalize and rebrand Coleford through inclusive community engagement that listens to all demographics- residents, tourists, and service providers. By understanding the town’s strengths and challenges, we’ll work with Coleford Council to bring their vision to life. Focusing on the town’s heritage, we’ll use visual storytelling to highlight its history and architecture, fostering pride and encouraging longer visits. The project aims to educate future generations and visitors while nurturing local culture, supporting events, improving connectivity, and providing a framework for Coleford’s long-term regeneration.

The Client: Our primary client was Coleford Town Council.
Working alongside Council representatives: Marilyn Cox, Stuart Cox and Mayor of Coleford, Nick Penny.

The Brief: The main brief aimed to educate the younger generation and visitors about Coleford's rich past while nurturing its existing culture. Promoting and supporting local events will be crucial, as will improving connectivity - linking cycle paths into the town, enhancing access from the visitor car park to the town centre, and creating sheltered outdoor spaces to boost footfall year-round.
Ultimately, the project will provide a long-term framework for Coleford’s regeneration and approach to local history, sparking excitement and creating a town that is vibrant, accessible, and truly a destination for all.

Proposals included:
-  A temporary roof structure crafted from green-oak timber to be placed upon ‘The Octagon’ roundabout in Coleford. This roof uses Coleford’s most centralised location to engage with the community, as well as travelling tourists. The temporary roof will serve as a community hot spot for pop-up museum pods in which tell the story of Coleford towns past and be utilised for the various events Coleford host including the Coleford Carnival of Transport, the Coleford Music Festival, the Coleford Country Market and the Battle of Coleford Parade.

-  A physically built historic trail which accompanies the digital trail app Coleford have for iPhone and Android. This physical trail will help to reconnect the elderly demographic of Coleford back to the history, including the installation of signs and storyboards which express the importance of each heritage asset.

-  ‘A heritage audit’ which presents the historical significance of each of Coleford’s landmarks. The audit will serve as a supplement to the final proposal and support Coleford Town Council in retrieving funding for future projects in association with their Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) and Regeneration Plan.

 We hope to see our plans succeed and help support Coleford Town Council in the future leading up to the finalisation of their Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP).